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What Is the Meaning of the Verse "Be Still and Know That I Am God"? (Part One) - Liz Kanoy

We live
in a culture of beautiful verse graphics and products with single verses
printed or sewn on, and there is nothing wrong with this—but if we never look
at the full passage that a verse is part of we can lose the original context in
our interpretation and application.

“Be
still and know that I am God,” Psalm 46:10, is a popular verse for comforting
ourselves and others—many people tend to think this verse means to rest or
relax in who God is. This verse does encourage believers to reflect on who God
is, but there is more to this psalm than one verse—and verse 10 is actually
more of a wake-up call to be in awe than a gentle call to rest. Taking time out
of our day to meditate on Scripture and be silent with listening ears toward
God is mentioned in other sections of Scripture (Psalm 119:15, Joshua 1:8, Luke 5:16,
and others). But this
command—“Be still…”—is written in the context of a time of trouble and war;
therefore, we should consider the verse with that context in mind.

Instead
of interpreting “be still” as a gentle suggestion, the meaning in this psalm
lends itself more to: “cease striving” or “stop” and more specifically in this
context “stop fighting,” which is directed toward the enemies of the people of
God. The people of God should interpret the command for themselves to read more
like: ‘snap out of it,’ ‘wake up,’ ‘stop fearing’—acknowledge who your God
is—be in awe! However, it is good to note that there’s nothing wrong with the
words in the translation “be still;” those words are not incorrect, it is
simply helpful to note the context of the phrase. Verse 10 has something to say
to both the enemies of God and the people of God, but it is the people of God
the psalm is written to. Verse 1 starts, “God is our refuge
and strength” (emphasis added). The Psalms are for God’s people.

In this
article we’ll take a look at the context of Psalm 46:10 and the various views on it;
let’s start by reading Psalm 46 in its entirety.

“To
the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.God is our refuge and strength, a very present help
in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives
way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the
sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at
its swelling. SelahThere is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the
holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations
rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the
earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our
fortress. Selah Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the
earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow
and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. "Be
still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will
be exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of
Jacob is our fortress. Selah”

The
first thing we learn is that this psalm is a song for the choirmaster or
director of music, of the sons of Korah according to Alamoth. What does this
mean—who are these people and what are these terms? Well-known pastor and
author, Charles H. Spurgeon wrote a commentary, a seven-volume “magnum opus,”
over a twenty-year span in the London Metropolitan Tabernacle’s periodical
called The Sword and the Trowel. Once the seventh volume was
completed in 1885, the commentary has been known as The Treasury of David, which you can access in full on BibleStudyTools.com. Concerning the heading of Psalm 46, Spurgeon explained:

“To
the Chief Musician. He who could sing other Psalms so well was fitly entrusted
with this noble ode. Trifles may be left to commoner songsters, but the most
skilful musician in Israel must be charged with the due performance of this
song, with the most harmonious voices and choicest music. For the Sons of
Korah. One alone cannot fulfil the praise, there must be picked choristers
under him, whose joyful privilege it shall be to celebrate the service of song
in the house of the Lord. As to why the sons of Korah were selected, see our
remarks at the head of Psalm 42. It may be well to add that they were a
division of the Levites who took their turn in serving at the temple. All the
works of holy service ought not to be monopolised by one order of talent, each
company of believers should in due course enjoy the privilege. None ought to be
without a share in the service of God.

A Song
upon Alamoth. Which may denote that the music was to be pitched high for the
treble or soprano voices of the Hebrew virgins. … Or the word Alamoth may refer
to shrill sounding instruments, as in 1 Chronicles
15:20 , where we read that Zechariah, and Eliab, and Benaiah
were to praise the Lord ‘with psalteries on Alamoth.’ We are not always, in a
slovenly manner, to fall into one key, but with intelligence are to modulate
our praises and make them fittingly expressive of the occasion and the joy it
creates in our souls. These old musical terms cannot be interpreted with
certainty, but they are still useful because they show that care and skill
should be used in our sacred music.”

Psalm 46 is
a song for Zion, God’s holy city where his people dwell with him—the city is
holy because God dwells in it. This psalm is all about security with God
that God is our true home. It’s mostly written in third-person, but at verse 10
there’s a change and God speaks directly. Throughout the 11 verses, we also
read several descriptions about God—his characteristics and attributes: he is
our refuge, he is strong, present, and a great help to those who are weak. God
is higher than all else and able to rule above all. At his voice the earth
melts.

We read
this is the God of Jacob, he is with believers, and he is exalted among the
nations and in the earth. He is a fortress and protects the weak that belong to
him. The psalmist is probably living through some sort of turmoil or war as he
mentions the phrases: trouble, the nations rage, the kingdoms totter, war, the
spear, bow, and chariots—though the psalm is also pointing forward to a future
time when wars will cease. It is clear by the end of the psalm that waring
against God is always in vain, and the people of God who are protected by their
Mighty Fortress have nothing to fear.

Zondervan’s Handbook to the Bible 5th ed., edited
by David and Pat Alexander, notes:

“This
psalm [Psalm 46] – the one on which Luther based a famous
hymn [A Mighty Fortress is Our God] – may have been written
following King Sennacherib of Assyria’s attack on Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32),
some natural disaster, or in anticipation of the events heralding the Messiah’s
coming. Verses 4-5 have a parallel in Revelation 22:1-5, where the ideal is perfectly realized. The
psalmist glories in God’s presence with his people (1, 4-5, 7, 11), and his
real and unassailable protection.”

A big
takeaway from Psalm 46 is that the people of God are always secure no
matter what environment they may be living in on earth—turmoil, war,
destruction, etc.—God has secured the souls of believers through his Son Jesus
Christ.

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